Katie’s Blog

My Trip to Tri County Family Ministries

My dad always said, “You need the right tool for the job. It will make your work easier and you will work more efficiently.” Well, I had no clue what he was talking about until this spring. In the past we had borrowed tillers from lots of different people to till my gardens. It was a huge challenge to pick them up and move them to where we needed them.   Often they didn’t work all that well. One time the tiller we borrowed broke within the first five minutes of using it. It would take us days to prep just 5 rows for planting.

All of that changed this spring. Troy-Bilt gave me an amazing gift of a shiny red new tiller and a fantastic cultivator. WOW what a difference they have made. We were able to till 12 new rows and guess what it didn’t take days it took just a couple of hours.  Planting was so much easier this spring because the dirt was so loose. I have already noticed a huge difference in the plants. They are growing so much faster and taller. My Master Gardener Ms. Lisa explained that because the Troy-Bilt tiller did such a good job tilling the plants are having an easier time spreading their roots therefore they are growing faster because they don’t have to fight tight packed soil to spread their roots.

To all of my friends at Troy-Bilt, a huge thank you. Your gift has made a huge impact on my gardens and will for years to come. I now understand what my dad was talking about; I now have the right tools for the job all thanks to the wonderful people at Troy-Bilt.

I want to thank my amazing friends who on a hot, 90 degree day make a point to follow me down a never ending dirt road to support me and plant a garden. Those are my true friends, the people who will always be my friends. It is so much more fun to have friends come and support you when you are doing an event, or in this case planting a garden. Time goes by a lot faster, and even though it was 90 degrees, you don’t even notice the heat when you are laughing with your friends.  After planting we visited the animals which were a hoot! We feed the goats who nibbled on our hands,  we got a laugh out of that, and visited Onyx and Dakota, Mr. Bob’s horses. Mr. Bob gave us each two treats, one for Onyx and one for Dakota.  When I feed the horses I thought they would eat my hand,(well at least that’s what I thought). Dakota was shy, whined and never came up to us because she was so scared. Onyx however lucked out and let us feed and pet him. We had a lot of fun. And we learned that for two weeks over the summer, Mr. Bob will be away and asked us to watch the farm for him. And yes, that includes feeding the goats and horses.  My friends said they would be there right by my side helping me care for the garden on the farm and visiting the animals. THANKS GUYS!!! Y’ALL ARE GREAT FRIENDS!! =D

Thanks to~

Chloe

Arrington

Caroline

Victoria

My school garden is planted and looks fabulous! For the first time the kindergarten came out to help and did an amazing job!!! They had a great attitude and listened to all directions. I was so impressed. I met an adorable little girl named Nicole. She was so nice and we worked together for a long time. She asked me lots of questions like how I started the garden. I wondered around helping the little kids plant vegetables. My brother is in kindergarten and he and his friends were so helpful.

2nd grade came to help too. They finished so fast!! And did a good job at that. In-between high school classes came and worked harder than I could ask for. They planted, hauled compost & dirt, set tomato cage, placed the hay for mulch and tilled.  And finally my class came. They finished off the garden. It looks amazing! It is so great to have so much help.

I want to thank everybody who made this garden possible, Troy Bilt, Bonnie Plants, Flowertown Garden Center, Disney Friends for Change, Epcot Gardeners, Pinewood, and kindergarden, 2^nd, high school, and 5^th grade. I also want to give an extra special thank you to Ms. Lisa, Ms. Darcey, and my mom who worked really hard from7:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.. THANK YOU!!!

My planting day at Children’s Orchard in Summerville was a success. The kids were really excited to plant the seeds and did a great job at it. It was fun to talk to little kids and see how excited they were about gardening. I hope their seeds sprout into garden dreams like mine. I love working with Children’s Orchard (and I love shopping there, they have super cute clothes!).We are setting the date for our second vegetable donation day this summer. As soon as I have the date I will let you know so you can mark your calendars. A big thank you to my great friend Chloe for coming and helping out.

Yesterday, (Saturday, April 17), planting day at the Pallmetto House garden, was a HUGE sucsess!! In an two hours we planted over three hundred plants (that is what happens when you works as a team)!!! I was so happy to have residents of the homeless shelter help (from the past and present). I had alot of friend and family there too! My friend Arrington, her mom and sister Lydia, The Makeys, Lily and Eloise (former residents), Mr. Colin, Mr. Kevin, Mr. Albert (current residents) my grandparents, my mom, my master gardener Ms. Lisa and her husband Ty, my little brother John Michael who worked very hard (I am very proud of you John Michael) and everyone else who helped make this garden possible.The new garden looks amazing! We planted about eight rows of vegetables, Tomatoes, Peppers (Bell and Banana),Starwberries, Eggplant, squash, zuchani. potatoes, Okra, and a patch of herbs. Also flowers to attract bees (white ones).

     This garden is really special for alot of reasons!

                                            1. This is the first garden I’ve been asked to start.

                                            2.  This is the first garden at a homeless shelter/ soup kitchen

                                            3. The residents helped plant it

                                            4. They’ll have fresh vegetables to eat right in their backyard

                                            5. This is my sixth garden!!!! 

  Thank you to everyone who helped make this garden possible!!!

Bonnie Plants

Mr. Colin and Mr. Kevin

Ms. Lisa and Mr. Ty

The Pallmetto House

Troy Bilt

 My friends at People Magazine

And all my friends and supporters

Something amazing happen today!
A year ago I didn’t even know Mr. Bob until he showed up at a vegetable (food)  drive I was having to collected fresh veggies for the soup kitchens. That day he told me that  he wanted to help me.  He let me borrow his rocking John Deer Tractor with AC and sate-light radio.  He gave me a large plot of land on his farm to grow vegetables for the soup kitchens but today he out did himself!  I went out to his farm and I found out he’d built a greenhouse and a whole maze of planters with a beautiful fountain in the middle for me to use! They look amazing! I’m going to store my seed trays there. This year planting will be so much easier on his farm because we won’t have to bend down to plant! We can just use the handy planters! I was so happy when I saw all the wonderful things he’d done for me! The greenhouse is amazing (it even has ducks, real live ducks in it). Thanks Mr. Bob you rock and thank you to everyone who helps and supports me.

I couldn’t do this without you.